Will South Jersey Get Federal Money for June Storms?

Acting Gov. Kim Guadagno has requested federal disaster aid for three southern New Jersey counties hit hard by weekend thunderstorms.

Guadagno, who is filling in while Gov. Chris Christie is out-of-state, sent a letter to President Obama requesting the aid Wednesday. It would be for Atlantic, Cumberland and Salem counties.

The counties were battered by a line of severe thunderstorms Saturday night which downed trees, power lines and poles, sparked fires and destroyed some homes. Two people were killed when a tree fell on their tent in a Salem County state park. Others were evacuated, and 192,000 customers lost power, some for days.

A preliminary damage assessment puts the cost at more than $17 million for the three counties.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)